🎓Early Academic Pursuits
Jiaxing Song’s journey into the world of fluid mechanics began at Lanzhou University, China, where he pursued a Bachelor of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from September 2012 to August 2016. His academic foundation was built on rigorous courses such as Fluid Mechanics, Advanced Mathematics, Theoretical Mechanics, and Computational Mechanics. His undergraduate thesis, “Direct numerical simulation of turbulent Taylor-Couette flow with a superhydrophobic surface,” set the stage for his future research in turbulent flows and complex fluids. During his time at Lanzhou University, Jiaxing excelled academically, earning several scholarships including the National Encouragement Scholarship of China and the Excellent Bachelor Thesis Award.
Following his undergraduate studies, Jiaxing continued to hone his expertise at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei. Here, he pursued a Ph.D. in Fluid Mechanics from September 2016 to August 2021. His doctoral research, “Direct numerical simulation of viscoelastic turbulent Taylor-Couette flow,” was complemented by advanced coursework in Fluid Mechanics, Advanced Mathematics, and Numerical Methods. Jiaxing’s dedication to academic excellence was recognized with multiple awards, including the Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Award of the Chinese Academy of Science and the Excellent Graduate Students Award of USTC.
🏢Professional Endeavors
Jiaxing’s professional career is marked by significant contributions to the field of fluid dynamics, particularly in the context of turbulent convection and complex fluids. After completing his Ph.D., he joined the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Göttingen, Germany, as a Humboldt Fellow and Postdoctoral researcher from September 2021 to December 2023. His research focused on rotating thermal convection in astrophysical and geophysical flows, a critical area for understanding phenomena in both the solar system and the Earth’s interior.
In January 2024, Jiaxing transitioned to the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, also in Göttingen, where he continues his postdoctoral research on the turbulent thermal convection of complex fluids. This role underscores his commitment to advancing the understanding of fluid dynamics through innovative research and high-performance computing.
🔬Contributions and Research Focus
Jiaxing’s research is distinguished by its focus on the simulation and control of turbulent flows, particularly in the context of viscoelasticity and complex fluids. His work includes:
- Turbulent Thermal Convection: Conducting direct numerical simulations of rotating Rayleigh-Bénard convection at extreme Rayleigh numbers, Jiaxing developed a viscoelastic solver in the AFiD code to simulate turbulent thermal convection in viscoelastic fluids.
- Viscoelastic Turbulence: His doctoral research elucidated the curvature-dependent turbulent drag enhancement of Taylor-Couette flows with polymer additives and discovered a reverse flow transition from Newtonian to elasticity-dominated turbulence.
- Flow Control: Investigating methods to reduce turbulent drag and heat transport through the application of polymer additives and superhydrophobic surfaces.
Jiaxing’s innovative approach to combining computational fluid dynamics with experimental techniques has led to significant advancements in the understanding of turbulent and complex fluid flows.
🏆Accolades and Recognition
Throughout his academic and professional career, Jiaxing has received numerous awards and recognitions, reflecting his exceptional contributions to the field of fluid mechanics:
- Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Award from the Chinese Academy of Science (2023)
- Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship for his postdoctoral program in computational flow physics
- Invited review paper by the Royal Society for the Philosophical Transactions Theme Issue on Taylor-Couette flows
His academic excellence was consistently acknowledged during his time at USTC with the Excellent Graduate Students Award and multiple first-class scholarships.
🌍Impact and Influence
Jiaxing’s research has had a profound impact on the scientific community, particularly in the areas of turbulence simulation and complex fluid dynamics. His contributions to understanding the behavior of viscoelastic turbulent flows and developing advanced numerical methods have paved the way for future research in fluid mechanics. Jiaxing’s work is frequently presented at prestigious conferences worldwide, including the AIChE Annual Meeting, the European Fluid Mechanics Conference, and the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Annual Meeting.
🌟Legacy and Future Contributions
Looking forward, Jiaxing Song’s legacy is poised to grow as he continues to push the boundaries of fluid dynamics research. His ongoing projects at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization focus on the turbulent thermal convection of complex fluids, promising new insights into the behavior of these fascinating systems. Jiaxing’s dedication to high-performance computing and innovative simulation techniques will undoubtedly lead to further breakthroughs in our understanding of turbulent flows.
In addition to his research, Jiaxing is committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists. His experience as an assistant teacher for advanced numerical methods and physics experiment courses underscores his dedication to education and knowledge dissemination. Jiaxing’s contributions to the field of fluid mechanics and his influence on future researchers ensure that his impact will be felt for years to come.